Japan at a crossroads: What’s keeping its defense industry from growing?

MELBOURNE, Australia — Japan is facing what appears to be an increasingly difficult choice, between a desire to keep its domestic defense industry in business, and getting more value for its defense spending while introducing much-needed capabilities by buying foreign off-the-shelf systems.

This conundrum comes as the U.S. ally continues to warily eye nearby China’s military buildup and North Korea’s missile and nuclear programs..............